The folks at Covenant Children’s are taking part in Prematurity Awareness Month. In the hospitals NICU they’re focused on seeing the smallest of patients grow.
“They are very fragile and very small but at the same time I would defy anyone to show us patients in the hospital that have more fight than ours do,” said Dr. Eric Sparks, the Medical Director of Covenant Children’s NICU.
One of his patients, Parker, weighed just 2 pounds and 2 ounces at birth. As he continues to grow is family and medical team are so proud of him and his progress.
In spending time with Dr. Sparks, Parker and his family, it’s evident the care goes far beyond Parker’s medical needs.
“A lot of the times, beside from providing the medical care, we’re just talking with them and listening and trying to support them.”
Dr. Sparks says giving them hope is important and reminding them that other families and babies have been in their shoes too.
Even if moms do everything right, make all the right choices and do all the right things, Dr. Sparks says sometimes premature births happen.
He says in the U.S. 10 percent of all births are premature, that’s 400-thousand babies a year.
Prenatal care and a healthy life style including diet and exercise are important for both baby and mom according to Dr. Sparks.
“As soon as a woman finds out shes pregnant we want them to get plugged in for prenatal care.”
Dr. Sparks says when the perfect birth plan gets interrupted it can be very difficult for families, but together they have a common goal.
“We’re going to have a team of physicians, nurses, therapist we’re all focused and specialized in getting babies home to their mother.”
On November, 17th everyone is encouraged to wear purple in support of World Prematurity Day.
